A Funeral Service That Respects the Deceased
If you are planning a funeral for a family member or friend, it's important to reflect the beliefs of your loved one and surviving family members. If your loved one wasn't religious, you may not want to incorporate church-related elements into the service. It can sometimes be challenging to find guidelines for non-religious ceremonies but here are some ideas for a non-religious funeral that can be extremely respectable and memorable.
Funeral Considerations
Celebrants and Venues
You may not want to engage a religious leader for a secular-style funeral. There is no "right" choice for a celebrant; it could be a family member, community leader, or a close friend. Likewise, you don't have to hold the ceremony in a church. You could have a memorial service in nature or at someone's home. If you enjoy the aesthetic of a traditional church, you could consider a local chapel.
Grave Markers and Engravings
Choosing a grave marker is important; it is a physical reminder of your loved one. Along with the person's name and birth and death dates, most markers incorporate some additional wording. If you don't want to include religious text or quotations on a headstone, consider lines from a meaningful poem or song. You could also simply state that the person was loved by family and friends.
Format and Activities
Any funeral, religious or not, should be relevant and meaningful to both the deceased and the surviving family members and friends. Because there are no required guidelines for a non-religious funeral, you can plan the service how you would like. You could have an open or closed casket. Services can include traditional elements of mourning or focus on a celebration of life. You could also add readings and music.
Final Thoughts
It's also important to ensure attendees can grieve in meaningful ways. You could allow friends and family members to share memories during the service. You may also suggest donations to an important charity or cause as a way to honor the deceased. A non-religious funeral can be extremely significant. The key is to make sure it is an accurate reflection of the deceased person's beliefs, preferences, and personality.
